Configuration of telephone ring list based on mobile device location

Abstract

Proximity of a user/device to a designated location or other user/device can be determined and used to trigger automatic reconfiguration of a telephone ring list associated with the user/device. Accordingly, there is no need for manual reconfiguration to accommodate changes in the user's location or schedule. Specific phone numbers may be added or removed from a user's ring list based on the user's location, and the ring list may be reconfigured as the user enters or leaves a location. The user's desired phones will automatically ring for incoming calls based on the ring list and/or an identification of the incoming call.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 determining a location of a mobile device based on the mobile device's association with a wireless local area network (WLAN) or an IP address, wherein the mobile device is associated with a user; 
 configuring a ring list based on the location of the mobile device, wherein the ring list comprises at least the mobile device's telephone number, a different telephone number associated with the user's workplace, and a voicemail; and 
 sequentially routing an incoming call to a plurality of telephone numbers in the ring list. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein configuring the ring list based on the location of the mobile device further comprises:
 prioritizing the telephone number associated with the user's workplace when the WLAN or the IP address is associated with the user's workplace; and 
 prioritizing the telephone number associated with the mobile device when the WLAN or the IP address is either associated with the user's home or unknown. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ring list further comprises a different telephone number associated with the user's home and wherein configuring the ring list based on the location of the mobile device further comprises:
 prioritizing the telephone number associated with the user's workplace when the WLAN or the IP address is associated with the user's workplace; 
 prioritizing the telephone number associated with the user's home when the WLAN or the IP address is associated with the user's home; and 
 prioritizing the telephone number associated with the mobile device when the WLAN or the IP address is unknown. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein configuring the ring list based on the location of the mobile device further comprises:
 identifying an incoming call number; 
 determining whether the incoming call number is in a list of incoming call numbers; and 
 prioritizing the telephone number associated with the mobile device if the incoming call number is in the list of incoming call numbers. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the list of incoming call numbers comprises telephone numbers associated with the user's family. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein configuring the ring list based on the location of the mobile device further comprises:
 identifying an incoming call number; 
 determining whether the incoming call number is in a list of incoming call numbers; and 
 removing the telephone number associated with the user's workplace if the incoming call number is in the list of incoming call numbers. 
 
     
     
       7. A system, comprising:
 a control system configured to determine a location of a mobile device based on the mobile device's association with a wireless local area network (WLAN) or an IP address, wherein the mobile device is associated with a user; 
 a ring list module interfacing with the control system to configure a ring list based on the location of the mobile device, wherein the ring list comprises at least the mobile device's telephone number, a different telephone number associated with the user's workplace, and a voicemail; and 
 
       a processing unit interfacing with the control system to process and sequentially route an incoming call to a plurality of telephone numbers in the ring list. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the ring list module is configured to:
 prioritize the telephone number associated with the user's workplace when the WLAN or the IP address is associated with the user's workplace; and 
 prioritize the telephone number associated with the mobile device when the WLAN or the IP address is either associated with the user's home or unknown. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the ring list further comprises a telephone number associated with the user's home and wherein the ring list module is configured to:
 prioritize the telephone number associated with the user's workplace when the WLAN or the IP address is associated with the user's workplace; 
 prioritize the telephone number associated with the user's home when the WLAN or the IP address is associated with the user's home; and 
 prioritize the telephone number associated with the mobile device when the WLAN or the IP address is unknown. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the ring list module is configured to:
 identify an incoming call number; 
 determine whether the incoming call number is in a list of incoming call numbers; and 
 prioritize the telephone number associated with the mobile device if the incoming call number is in the list of incoming call numbers. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the list of incoming call numbers comprises telephone numbers associated with the user's family. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the ring list module is configured to:
 identify an incoming call number; 
 determine whether the incoming call number is in a list of incoming call numbers; and 
 remove the telephone number associated with the user's workplace if the incoming call number is in the list of incoming call numbers. 
 
     
     
       13. A method, comprising:
 determining a location of a mobile device based on the mobile device's association with a wireless local area network (WLAN) or an IP address, wherein the mobile device is associated with a user; 
 configuring a ring list based on the location of the mobile device, wherein the ring list comprises at least the mobile device's telephone number, a different telephone number associated with the user's workplace, and a voicemail, wherein configuring the ring list based on the location of the mobile device further comprises accounting for rules about time of day, the user's schedule, and an incoming call number; and 
 routing an incoming call according to the ring list. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein routing the incoming call according to the ring list comprises simultaneously routing the incoming call to a plurality of telephone numbers in the ring list. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein routing the incoming call according to the ring list comprises sequentially routing the incoming call to a plurality of telephone numbers in the ring list. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , wherein routing the incoming call according to the ring list comprises sending the incoming call directly to voicemail. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13 , wherein configuring the ring list based on the location of the mobile device further comprises:
 prioritizing the telephone number associated with the user's workplace when the WLAN or the IP address is associated with the user's workplace; and 
 prioritizing the telephone number associated with the mobile device when the WLAN or the IP address is either associated with the user's home or unknown. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the ring list further comprises a telephone number associated with the user's home and wherein configuring the ring list based on the location of the mobile device further comprises:
 prioritizing the telephone number associated with the user's workplace when the WLAN or the IP address is associated with the user's workplace; 
 prioritizing the telephone number associated with the user's home when the WLAN or the IP address is associated with the user's home; and 
 prioritizing the telephone number associated with the mobile device when the WLAN or the IP address is unknown. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 13 , wherein configuring the ring list based on the location of the mobile device further comprises:
 identifying the incoming call number; 
 determining whether the incoming call number is in a list of incoming call numbers; and 
 prioritizing the telephone number associated with the mobile device if the incoming call number is in the list of incoming call numbers. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the list of incoming call numbers comprises telephone numbers associated with the user's family. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 13 , wherein configuring the ring list based on the location of the mobile device further comprises:
 identifying an incoming call number; 
 determining whether the incoming call number is in a list of incoming call numbers; and 
 removing the telephone number associated with the user's workplace if the incoming call number is in the list of incoming call numbers. 
 
     
     
       22. A system, comprising:
 a control system configured to determine a location of a mobile device based on the mobile device's association with a wireless local area network (WLAN) or an IP address, wherein the mobile device is associated with a user; 
 a ring list module interfacing with the control system to configure a ring list based on the location of the mobile device, wherein the ring list comprises at least the mobile device's telephone number, a different telephone number associated with the user's workplace, and a voicemail, wherein configuring the ring list based on the location of the mobile device further comprises accounting for rules about time of day, the user's schedule, and an incoming call number; and 
 a processing unit interfacing with the control system to process and route an incoming call according to the ring list. 
 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 22 , wherein the processing unit is configured to simultaneously route the incoming call to a plurality of telephone numbers in the ring list. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 22 , wherein the processing unit is configured to sequentially route the incoming call to a plurality of telephone numbers in the ring list. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 22 , wherein the processing unit is configured to send the incoming call directly to voicemail. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 22 , wherein the ring list module is configured to:
 prioritize the telephone number associated with the user's workplace when the WLAN or the IP address is associated with the user's workplace; and 
 prioritize the telephone number associated with the mobile device when the WLAN or the IP address is either associated with the user's home or unknown. 
 
     
     
       27. The system of  claim 22 , wherein the ring list further comprises a telephone number associated with the user's home and wherein the ring list module is configured to:
 prioritize the telephone number associated with the user's workplace when the WLAN or the IP address is associated with the user's workplace; 
 prioritize the telephone number associated with the user's home when the WLAN or the IP address is associated with the user's home; and 
 prioritize the telephone number associated with the mobile device when the WLAN or the IP address is unknown. 
 
     
     
       28. The system of  claim 22 , wherein the ring list module is configured to:
 identify the incoming call number; 
 determine whether the incoming call number is in a list of incoming call numbers; and 
 prioritize the telephone number associated with the mobile device if the incoming call number is in the list of incoming call numbers. 
 
     
     
       29. The system of  claim 28 , wherein the list of incoming call numbers comprises telephone numbers associated with the user's family. 
     
     
       30. The system of  claim 22 , wherein the ring list module is configured to:
 identify an incoming call number; 
 determine whether the incoming call number is in a list of incoming call numbers; and 
 remove the telephone number associated with the user's workplace if the incoming call number is in the list of incoming call numbers.